Man wanted for murder in suspicious death arrested in San Patricio County

A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder by San Patricio County deputies, a news release states.

On Feb. 1, Corpus Christi Police officers responded to Christus Spohn Hospital South in the suspicious death of a 24-year-old female whose body was bruised, the release states.

Steven Urias

Steven Urias

Contributed photo

The Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday identified her as Leeann Torres.

A 26-year-old man believed to be a suspect, who was at the hospital when police arrived, was taken to the main police station and interviewed. He was released that day.

When detectives later received the autopsy report, they developed probable cause to request a murder warrant be issued, the release states. The suspected murder is believed to have happened around 7 a.m. in the 6700 block of Everhart Road, near Saratoga Boulevard, the release states.

On Feb. 4, Steven Urias was arrested on the murder warrant and taken to San Patricio County Jail. His bail was set at $100,000.

Heraldo Pena, an investigator at the examiner's office, said Torres had multiple bruises on her neck, torso and arms, possibly from an assault. He also said Torres was in a car accident a month before she died and some of the bruising could be attributed to that.

The medical examiner's office on Tuesday said Torres died from strangulation, but added it is waiting for a toxicology report in the case.

Corpus Christi police detectives and the medical examiner are continuing the investigation.